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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. W. COLE. NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

N0. 449,575. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I. W. COLE.

NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

No. 449,575. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK XV. COLE, OF NElVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I'lALF TO MOSES G. CRANE, OF SAME PLACE.

NON-INTERFERENCE SIG NAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,575, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed June 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,684. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton,count-y of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Non-Interference Signal-Boxes, of which the following description, in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to constructanon-interferencefire-alarm-signalbox.

In accordance with this invention a signalin g-train of any usual or suitable construction is employed. A locking-lever is provided for the signaling-train, and also a holder by means of which said lever is held in locking position. A pull or other actuator is provided for moving the locking-lever to start up or release the train. A non-interference magnet is provided, the armature-carrying lever of which constitutes the box-controller and is adapted to co-operate with the starting mechanism to effect the proper operation thereof to release the train when the armature is in its attracted position, and when the said armature is in its retracted position no such co-operation can take place. Means are provided for controlling the said non-interference magnet, whereby its armature will not be moved into position to enable the box-controller to co-operate with its fellow members, except on a closure in the signaling-circuit of longer duration than the longest closure in any signal. This part of my invention may be carried out in many different ways; but for simplicity I herein employ a shunt-circuit closer for the non-interference magnet, which shunt-circuit closer is controlled by a lag-switch preferably operated by the armature of a magnet included directly in the signaling-circuit. This lag-switch is to prevent the shunt circuit closer from being opened on each closure of the signaling-circuit, operating only on a closure of long duration.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a signalbox embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the box shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line a; m, the controlling device for the non-interference magnet being omitted; Fig. 3, a detail showing the starting mechanism of the box; Figs. 4 and 5, details of the starting mechanism in different positions; Figs. 6 and '7, modifications of the controlling device for the non-interference magnet; Figs. 8 to 11, diiferent forms of signalboxes to which parts of my invention to be herein described may be applied.

The signaling-train shown in Fig. 1 consists of a drive-wheel to, engaging a pinion a on a shaft (L to which is attached a toothed wheel a which engages a pinion a secured to a shaft a to which is attached a toothed wheel a, engaging a pinion 0, secured to a shaft a carrying an escape-wheel a, with which co-operates a suitable pallet a In lieu of this form of signaling-train any other wellknown or suitable construction may be employed. A locking-lever b, pivoted at b, has at its outer end a lateral extension b (see Fig. 3,) provided with a downwardlyextended arm '0 said extension or arm 17 normally engaging a pin b on the escapewheel a to lock the train. A holder is provided for the locking-lever b to hold it in its locking position, said holder being herein represented as a plate 0, pivoted to the locking-lever b at c and having a downwardlyprojecting arm 0 which is adapted to bear upon the inner end of the pull or other actuator d, and also having an arm 0 which is pressed by a spring 0 into engagement with o a pin 0 on the locking-lever, and also having an arm 0 extending in the opposite direction, which is adapted to co-operate with the boxcontroller. A non-interference magnet e is provided, its armature 6' being attached to an armature-carrying lever 6 which latter, as herein shown, constitutes the box-controller.

The signaling-train carries any suitable signal-wheel, as f, which co-operates with contact-pens f f The locking-lever b has on its under side a projection I), having an inclined side, and on one of the wheels of the train-as a for instance-a restoring-pin b is placed, which, as the wheel a completes a revolution, strikes the. inclined side of the projection 17 and restores the locking-lever b to its normal position.

The parts as represented in Fig.1 show the signaling-train at rest, the locking-lever I; being in its locking position. As the sig naling lever or pull cl is depressed its inner end, bearing against the holder 0, will raise the locking-lever b; but, owing to the arm b on said locking-lever continuing to engage the pin Z)", the train will not be released. If the box-controller e is in its attracted position, as represented in Fig. 1, when the pull (Z is operated, as above described, as the lockinglever Z2 is raised the arm a of the holder will strike the lower end of said box-controller, and said holder will be thereby turned on its pivot 0 against the tension of the spring 0' until the arm of said holder slips off the pull, when the locking-lever will by means of the said spring c be immediately depressed, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, in which position the train will be released. If the armature e is retracted (see Fig. l) at the time the pull is operated, the holder will not be engaged by the box-controller, and hence the parts will return to their normal position and the train will not be released, so that only when the box-controller is in its correct or attracted position can the train be released.

Means are herein provided for preventing the armature of the non-interference magnet from responding to all closures in the circuit, the intention beingto keep the box-controller out of cooperative position with the holder until the line has been closed a longer time than a closure in any signal, and, as before stated, many different devicessuch as lagswitches, time-movements, restrained armatures, and the likemay be employed for accomplishing this purpose, so I do not desire to limit the scope of myinvention to any particular construction of such means.

Referring to Fig. 1, the means which I have there shown for simplicity consists of an electro-magnet 72, which is included in the signaling-circuit 2, the armature n of which moves in a very large magnetic field, so that considerable time is required for a complete movement or excursion of said armature. The time thus consumed is greater than the time consumed by the ordinary short closures in a signal. The armature n has a retractile spring 100, attached to a post 101. A bell-hammer 102 is attached to the arm n, which,when the armature is retracted, strikes the gong 103.

A shunt-circuit closer at n is provided, which is connected by wire 3 with the wire 2 and by wire at with the pen f and the noninterference magnet e is included in the wire 5, which connects with the wire 2 at the junction 2 3 and at the pen f so that when the shunt-circuit closer a" a is closed the non-interference magnet c is shunted out, and when open the said magnet is included in the signaling circuit. An arm or is attached to the armature n, which is employed to open said shnnt-circuit closer when the armature is in its attracted position, and when said armature is retracted the shunt-circuit closer is closed. This armature n, arm a, and the shunt-circuit closer n it constitute in this instance a lag-switch for controlling a shunt-circuit for the non-interference magnet. The magnet 72 being included in the signaling-circuit 2, is responsive to all signals; but said magnet may be cut into and-out of circuit bya spring controlled by the box-door in any usual or suitable manner.

Referring to Fig. 6, the armature n is carried by an arm or, which carries a pawl 91", engaging a ratchet-toothedwvheel of, attached to a shaft carrying an escape-wheel a provided with a suitable pallet. In this instance the armature n may be retracted quickly and will be attracted slowly, and the shunt-circuit closer n at is located adjacent to the said arm a, so that when the armatn re is attracted the shunt-circuit closer will be open and when retracted the said shunt-circuit closer will be closed.

Referring to Fig. 7, the armature It is attached to a bell-crank lever 11., provided at its outer end with a tooth 7, adapted to en-- gage a pallet 8 of an escape-wheel 9. Said bell crank lever 022" also is connected with a pawl 10, attached to a pawl-carrier 12, pivoted at 13, said pawl 10 engaging a ratchet-- toothed wheel 1* 011 the shaft of the escapewheel 9. The shaft carrying the escapewheel 9 has on it a pinion, which is engaged by a toothed wheel 15, carrying a pawl 10, which is engaged by a ratchet-toothed wheel 17 on a shaft carrying a pinion 18, which is engaged by a sector 19, pivoted at 20. The sector 19 has attached to it a strong spring 21, and also an arm 22, which is engaged by a projection 23 on the door of the box when the said door is opened or closed, such movement of the box-door moving the sector in the direction of the arrow thereon and winding up the spring, so as to always present a normally-wound train for the shunt-operating lever or pawl-carrier 12. hen the armature n is retracted, the pawl 10 is disengaged from the ratchet-wheel 1i, and immediately thereafter the spring 2% throws the pawl-carrier 12 on its pivot into position to close the shunt a a". This device may be employed in lieu of the device shown in Fig. 1. It is also obvious that the box-controller c may have a retarding device directly co-opcrating with it-such, for instance, as that shown in Fig. 6.

The devices herein provided for controlling the shunt circuit closer of the non-interference magnet 0 may be employed to control the non-interference magnet of any form of non-interference box-such, for instance, as shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive-such constructions being substantially the same as represented in United States Patents Nos. 405,831, 253,639, 253,847, and 165,918.

lVhile I have herein shown a shunt-circuit closer for shunting out and thereby disabling the non-interference magnet e, I do not desire to limit myself to this particular construction or arrangement of disabling the said magnet by means of a part or member con-' trolled by the electro-magnet n, as it may be done in various ways, or by a lag-switch operated in any suitable manner.

I claim- 1. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a locking-lever, and a holder therefor, combined with a pull and aboX-controller between which the holder is interposed, substantially as described.

2. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, alocking-lever, a spring-controlled holder therefor, and a pull and a box-controller between which the said holder is placed, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a locking-lever, a pivoted holder therefor, a pull for moving said holder bodily, a box-controller for moving said holder on its pivot, and a non-interference magnet controlling the engagement of the box-controller and holder, substantially as described.

4. In a signal-box, a signaling-train,alocking-lever, and holder therefor, combined with a pull and a box-controller between which the holder is interposed, and a restoring device for the locking-lever, the movable member of which is carried by one of the wheels of the train, substantially as described.

5. In'a signal-box, a signaling-train, a locking-lever and holder for it, and a pull and a box-controller between which the said holder is placed, combined with a restoring device for the locking-lever and holder, the movable member of whichis carried by one of the moving parts of the train, substantially as described.

6. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a locking-lever and actuating-spring c therefor, a holder for said locking-lever,a pull on which said holder rests and by which it is moved against the tension of its actuating-spring,

and a box-controller for also moving said holder to disengage it from the pull, substantially as described.

7. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a noninterference magnet, as e, controllingits operation, combined with a shunt-circuit closer for said non-interference magnet, an armaturelever for operating said shunt-circuit closer, and a separate electro-magnet, as n, for said armature-lever, substantially as described.

, S. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train, and non-interference magnet, as e, and a shunt-circuit closer therefor, combined with an armature-lever responsive only to long closures in the circuit for opening said shunt-circuit closer, and a separate electro-magnet, as n, for said armature-lever, substantially-as described.

9. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a noninterference magnet, as e, and a switch for disabling it, combined with a separate electro-magnet, as n, and its armature and armature-lever, by means of which the said switch is operated, substantially as described.

10. In a signal-box, asignaling-train, a non interference magnet, and a shunt therefor, combined with a lag-switch for said shunt and a separate electro-magnet controlling the operation of said lag-switch, substantially as described.

11. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a noninterference magnet, as e, and a switch for disabling it, combined with a separate electro-magnet, as n, and anarmature therefor which controls the operation of said switch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. COLE.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NoYEs, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

